Softball-sized hail possible today for the Big Country

BIG COUNTRY, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) — As we honor and remember the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom today, we ask that you remain weather-aware. Severe storms are still expected to impact the Big Country in the coming hours.

As of now, the Storm Prediction Center has placed many of our counties along and south of the I-20 corridor under an Enhanced Risk (Level 3 out of 5) for severe weather.

What does this mean for us?

In simple terms, we could see all types of severe weather tonight. This includes:

• Heavy rainfall
• Strong, potentially damaging winds
• Large hail
• And even the possibility of an isolated tornado

Stay weather-aware and have multiple ways to receive warnings.

Yes, while a tornado is certainly the worst-case scenario, the hail threat tonight could be just as significant. According to our colleagues at the National Weather Service, hail could reach 4 inches in diameter or larger, and I agree with their assessment.

If you’re wondering why the hail risk is so elevated, here’s a quick explanation: Hail forms when strong updrafts within thunderstorms lift raindrops high into the storm, where temperatures are below freezing. This causes the drops to freeze and form hailstones. The stronger the updraft, the larger the hailstones can become. Once the hailstones become too heavy for the updraft to support, they fall to the ground, potentially causing significant damage.

What does the timeline of these storms look like?

Round One:

• Monday 3:00 p.m.
  A strong cell develops just South of Coke County.
• Monday 5:00 p.m.
  That same cell strengthens and has the potential to drop some serious hail. More small cells develop in our southwestern counties.
• Monday 7:00 p.m.
  Many individual strong supercells develop within the Heartland. All of these storms are capable of dangerous hail and a possible spin-up.
• Monday 9:00 p.m.
  Most of these storms turn linear and exit the Big Country.

Round Two:

• Tuesday 1:00 a.m.
  A couple minor cells may develop within our northwestern counties.
• Tuesday 2:00 a.m.
  Those same cells continue to move East, producing minor hail and heavy rainfall.
• Tuesday 4:00 a.m.
  The Big Country is clearing up.

As of 2:35 p.m. Monday, the National Weather Service has a Tornado Watch in effect for some of our southern counties; however, more watches could join the group in the coming hours. Be sure to download our app, BCH-To-Go, for further updates. Stay weather-aware!